Mashpee 1/10/13 Red Sox manager John Farrell at the Country Club at New Seabury Thursday evening.

Sox's Farrell lends hand at fundraiser

By JEN MCCAFFREY

jmccaffrey@capecodonline.com

January 11, 2013 - 2:00 AM

MASHPEE — Saturday marks one month until Red Sox pitchers and catchers officially report to spring training in Fort Myers, Fla., and five months until the Cape Cod Baseball League season opens, but baseball talk was in full swing on Thursday night at the New Seabury Country Club.

The Falmouth Commodores hosted a Hot Stove fundraiser with a question and answer panel highlighted by Red Sox manager John Farrell, whose ties to the Cape League run deep.

Former WBZ-TV sports anchor Scott Wahle emceed the event, which aimed to raise money to repair the Commodores' Eric Palmer Memorial Press Box at Guv Fuller Field in Falmouth.

Falmouth native and Miami Marlins reliever Steve Cishek was also on hand for the panel, along with Commodores manager Jeff Trundy, New York Yankees Northeast area scout Matt Hyde and free-agent pitcher Rich Hill.

Farrell played for the Hyannis franchise in 1982 while his sons Jeremy and Shane played for Falmouth in 2007 and 2009, respectively, and his youngest son Luke played for the Commodores in 2011 and the Wareham Gatemen in 2012.

"Falmouth has had a huge impact and a direct impact on our family," said John Farrell. "The people we've met here, and not only the team itself, but the people within the town as an extension of the ballclub. This was an easy trip to make to help out those who've helped our family."

Commodores vice president Mike White developed the idea for the fundraiser after approaching his neighbor Tim Schorer, who housed all three Farrell sons while they played on the Cape. White asked Schorer if Farrell might make the trip to support the team and when the new manager agreed the planning began and the guests added up.

"We're fortunate they've given up their time to be here," White said of the guests. "The support of the community and the (press box) builders helped us put this together in less than six weeks."

Prior to the event, Commodores president of the board of directors Steve Kostas announced that Falmouth brothers Tim and Patrick Callahan of Callahan Construction, based out of Bridgewater, had donated their time and materials to rebuild the press box. The money raised from the night, which also included a silent auction, would further defer the costs of improvements.

As for Farrell, he has had a nonstop offseason since his hire in late October to replace Bobby Valentine. And there's a break in site as he plans to get down to Fort Myers by Feb. 1.

"A number of guys will start to come down around that time and I'm anxious to get things going," he said. "In my conversations with (General Manager) Ben (Cherington) right from the get-go we anticipated a number of turnovers in terms of the roster.

"You never know fully how the offseason is going to unfold but there's been a lot of reconnecting with guys that have been here during the time that I was here and obviously introducing and getting to know the guys we've signed. Now in addition to that, putting an entire staff together, it's been relatively nonstop but I think we're meeting the goals we've outlined in the offseason and we're all eager and looking ready to get down to Fort Myers."

Wahle led an hour-long discussion with Trundy, Cishek, Hyde, Hill and Farrell discussing everything from their time on the Cape, to the recent Hall of Fame controversy, to the state of the 2013 Red Sox and Farrell's new role.

Wahle began the conversation noting his first professional play-by-play radio job he ever had was calling a Chatham-Orleans game in 1976 with former Boston Bruins voice Frank Cusick. Trundy received a standing ovation when introduced to the crowd, a gesture that made him emotional after a tumultuous offseason in which we was released and eventually reinstated.

Wahle opened the discussion with an inquiry on that controversial Hall of Fame announcement, or lack thereof, earlier this week.

"I was somewhat surprised," Farrell said prior to the panel discussion. "I was surprised particularly with a guy like Craig Biggio with 3,000-plus hits doesn't get in, that whole era has had a lasting impact. How long it lasts? Time will tell.

"My personal feelings on it, how are we to know what the level playing field was? Guys performed to the numbers that were there. I'm sure in time, all will realize their careers and probably be elected and inducted."

The conversation turned toward the major leaguers careers, and Hill talked about his time pitching for Chatham in the 2000-01 summers and how he wasn't prepared for the level of competition.

"Your controllables are making every pitch with conviction," Hill said. "Every time you go out there, trust, confidence and conviction, I always use that saying when I go out to pitch. You can go home at night and sleep whether you do well or not."

Cishek, who didn't pitch in the Cape League while at Division 2 Carson-Newman College, discussed his ascent through the Marlins system and getting pushed back by the competition at Low-A Greensboro (N.C.) before breaking through to Double-A and then the Marlins two years ago.

Farrell praised Trundy's work for Falmouth, especially with his sons, after getting to know him over the years.

"He has a tremendous reputation within the game at the pro ranks," Farrell said. "Not overusing individual guys, not putting such a style of play that everyone has to abide by. There's an environment he and his coaching staff create that draw the professional people to them and some of the best players around the country so it's a credit to Jeff's style.

When the topic turned toward the Red Sox, Farrell had high praise for his former manager Terry Francona.

"Personally, I think Terry Francona is the best manager the Red Sox ever had. One of the reasons I think he was so good was he handled the pressure cooker of Boston so well. He knew how to deal with the press and the daily grind in a position that matters so much to so many people."

"The Red Sox are so much a part of the fabric of New England but what Tito did was any issues that raised in the clubhouse stayed there and I think that's why players trusted and respected him."

The night ended in a few questions from the audience along with the silent auction.

In all, a good night for the Commodores and a good night for the new manager.